Bilgi yarışması bu akşam başlıyor.

Because bilgi yarışması is a Turkish noun compound.

• bilgi = knowledge / information
• yarışma = competition, contest

When Turkish combines two nouns in this way, the second noun usually takes a compound suffix, often called the 3rd person possessive suffix:

• yarışma → yarışması

So:

• bilgi yarışması = knowledge competition, which is the natural Turkish way to say quiz show / quiz contest

Even though that suffix looks possessive in form, here it does not mean its competition in the ordinary sense. It is just the normal structure of this kind of compound.

The -sı is the compound ending attached to the second noun.

The base word is:

• yarışma = competition

With the compound suffix:

• yarışma
  • -sı → yarışması

The s is a buffer consonant. Turkish often inserts s between vowels when adding this suffix.

The exact vowel changes by vowel harmony, so you may also see forms like:

• kapı kolu = door handle
• elma suyu = apple juice
• okul bahçesi = school garden

So bilgi yarışması follows a very common Turkish pattern.

It is written as two words:

• bilgi yarışması

In Turkish, many noun compounds are written separately even though they function together as a single idea.

So grammatically, it behaves like one noun phrase, but orthographically it is usually written as two words.

Başlıyor is in the present continuous form.

It comes from:

• başlamak = to start / to begin

Formation:

• başla- (verb stem)
• -ıyor (present continuous suffix)

So literally, başlıyor means:

• is starting
• is beginning

However, in Turkish, this form is also very commonly used for planned or scheduled future events, especially when the time is already stated.

So in this sentence, it naturally means something like:

• starts tonight
• is starting this evening

This is very common in Turkish.

When something is scheduled, arranged, or expected to happen soon, Turkish often uses the present continuous instead of the future tense.

So:

• Bilgi yarışması bu akşam başlıyor.

naturally means:

• The quiz show starts tonight.
• The quiz contest is starting this evening.

This is similar to English sentences like:

• The movie starts at 8.
• We’re leaving tomorrow.

So even though the form is present continuous, the meaning can be near-future.

Yes, absolutely.

• başlıyor = is starting / starts
• başlayacak = will start

Both are correct, but they feel slightly different:

• başlıyor sounds more like a scheduled event or something already arranged
• başlayacak is a more straightforward future tense

So:

• Bilgi yarışması bu akşam başlıyor.
  = The quiz show starts tonight.

• Bilgi yarışması bu akşam başlayacak.
  = The quiz show will start tonight.

In many contexts, the first one sounds more natural for TV programs, events, and timetables.

Bu akşam means:

• this evening
• tonight

Word by word:

• bu = this
• akşam = evening

Together, they mean the evening of the current day.

Depending on context, English may translate it as either this evening or tonight.

Because Turkish does not have definite articles like the.

So a noun like bilgi yarışması can mean:

• the quiz show
• a quiz show

depending on context.

In this sentence, context usually makes it definite in English, so we translate it as:

• The quiz show starts tonight.

Turkish leaves that distinction to context rather than using a separate word like the.

The subject is:

• Bilgi yarışması

The verb is:

• başlıyor = is starting / starts

And the time expression is:

• bu akşam = this evening / tonight

So the structure is:

• Bilgi yarışması = subject
• bu akşam = time expression
• başlıyor = verb

Yes. This is a very natural Turkish word order.

The sentence is:

• Bilgi yarışması bu akşam başlıyor.

This follows a common pattern:

• Subject + time expression + verb

Turkish often puts the verb at the end, which is one of the biggest differences from English.

So while English says:

• The quiz show starts tonight

Turkish naturally says something closer to:

• Quiz show tonight starts

That is completely normal in Turkish.

Yes, Turkish word order is flexible, but changing it changes the focus or emphasis.

For example:

• Bilgi yarışması bu akşam başlıyor.
  Neutral: The quiz show starts tonight.

• Bu akşam bilgi yarışması başlıyor.
  Emphasizes tonight.

• Başlıyor bilgi yarışması bu akşam.
  Possible in certain expressive contexts, but less neutral.

For learners, the safest and most natural order is the original one:

• Bilgi yarışması bu akşam başlıyor.

In Turkish, verbs do carry person endings, but in the 3rd person singular the form is often quite simple and may not look like it has an extra ending to English speakers.

Here:

• başlıyor = he/she/it is starting or simply starts

Turkish does not need a separate word for it in this sentence. The noun phrase bilgi yarışması already tells us what is starting.

So Turkish does not need to say something equivalent to it here.

A few sounds may be unfamiliar to English speakers:

• ş = sh
• ı = a dotless i, a vowel that does not exist exactly in English
• ğ often lengthens the preceding vowel or creates a smooth transition rather than sounding like a hard consonant

Rough guides:

• yarışması ≈ ya-rush-ma-suh
• başlıyor ≈ bash-luh-yor

A few notes:

• In yarışması, both ı sounds are the Turkish dotless ı
• In başlıyor, the sequence -lıyor may feel tricky at first; say it smoothly

If you want to sound more natural, pay special attention to:

• ş = sh
• ı = not ee, not ih, but a more central, relaxed vowel

Yes. Başlamak can often be translated as either:

• to start
• to begin

So:

• Bilgi yarışması bu akşam başlıyor.

can be understood as:

• The quiz show starts tonight.
• The quiz show is beginning this evening.

In everyday English, starts is usually the most natural translation here.

Yes. Bilgi yarışması can refer to:

• a quiz contest
• a quiz competition
• a quiz show

The exact translation depends on context.

If this sentence is about television, then quiz show is probably the best English translation. If it is about a live event at school or elsewhere, quiz competition or quiz contest may fit better.

So the Turkish phrase itself is flexible; the situation tells you the best English wording.